Thread



iae lsaz (1222A XR 199179938 if W 7 Patented July 11, 1 33 PATENT GFFiCE l STUART JACKSON HAYES, 0F LUIDLOW, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 LUDLOW MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATES, 0F LUDLOW, MASSACHUSETTS, A MASSACHUSMTS No Drawing;

This invention relates to improvements in yarns and threads used in the manufacture of fish nets, more particularly gill nets. It includes boththe method of preserving such yarns and threacfs so as to malre them rotresistant arid the rotres1stant varns d th'reads themselves.

1e rapi eterioration and resulting replacement costs of fishing nets has resulted in efforts to find a satisfactory preservative treatment. A great deal of work has been ,-done by the United States Bureau of Fisheries on the problem and the results have been described in bulletins of that bureau. So far as I am aware all suggestions for preserving nets refer to the treatment of the finished fabric. V

The various substances which have been suggested for treating such nets, so far as I am aware, include only substances which can be used for treating the finished fabric, and do not include substances suited for treating the thread prior to the fabrication of the netting. When applied to the thread many preservative substances applicable to completed nets produce one or another of several desirable effects which render the thread unsuitable for subsequent use in the manufacture of the nets. Tar, for example, has been used as a preservative but it stifi'ens the nets.

Y If applied to thread the thread would be too stifi to be passed through the knitting machine. Copper oleate has been suggested but this would also render the thread too stiif for subsequent use. Other substances change the character of the thread in such a way that it is not suitable for knotting. am aware there have been no rot-resistant threads on the market suitable for the production of fish nets, more particularly gill nets. 1

According tothis invention, flax yarn or thread is made rot-resistant by a process which leaves the thread soft and pliable and with a surface and composition suited to knotting. According toa preferred method of treatment," both a disinfectant and a water-proofing material are applied to the thread. One or both of these ingredients may-be applieditoithethreadafter it is mana' So far as I- THREAD Application filed October 14, 1931. Serial No. 563,875.

ufactured, or they may be applied to the yarn before or during the manufacture of the thread or they may be applied in part dur ing the manufacture and in part after the completion of the thread;

It is often advantageous to treat the thread before it is made up into netting, not only because of the reduced cost of preserving the net in this way rather than by applying the preservative to the finished net, but alsobecause treatment before the thread is manu- 4 factured into the net insures more uniform and more thorough treatment of the thread. The thread in a net is not under uniform tension. Parts of the thread, as at the knots, are under greater tension than other parts. The tight parts absorb liquors less readily. Furthermore, the interior of the knots is protected and may not be as thoroughly or uniformly impregnated when preservatives are applied to the finished netting. By applying the preservative to the thread before it is fabricated into the netting, uniform treatment of the thread is insured.

I find it of advantage to apply to the yarn or thread a disinfectant which is only slightly soluble in water. When waterproofedthe disinfectant does not readily wash away and will remain on or in the threads in effective quantities for a long period of time, usually until the net fails by natural wear and tear, although in some instances further applications of the preserva tive treatment may be made before the end of the effective life of the net.

According to a preferred method of treatmcn app v ism ec an s w' 10b 0 t emselves woulcF not remain on the hber in sufhcient concentration forthe required @th (men nevertheless would be effectlvc disifiectants for preventing or retarcfingflie growth of micro-organisms. ordestmion or rottin oithe fibers thereby vflien applied in connection with-a water-proofing material. A disinfggtant'which I hgyg. fgund particularly valuable is thvmol. Other'disf'nr'ectants articularly phendlic substances of imlted solubilitv But'e'fiecfive disinfecting action such as salicyl anil1de,phenyl'salycilate u sodium phenate, heXylresorcmoI and some other higher alkvl resorcinols can be employed. The amount of the disinfectant emp oyed will vary somewhat with the disinfeetants, but should be sumcient to protect the netting against omectionable deterioranun The water-proofing substances employed in connection wltn the disinfectant are-substances which impart water-resistance to the fibers without objectionable stiffening of the I consider metallic soaps such as aluminum soap articularfadvz oans of lead. iron, etc. can be employed, but I consider them less d mable than aluminum soiffbecause the soaps of these other metals impart dark colors and are heavy. Thesoapls mav be soaps of the common fatty aci s suc i as o eates, stearates, pflm ifiites. etc. or soa )s of resin acid, et c. The amount of waterprmployed s 1011 e su 16111) to 1m )art water-resistant or water-re ellent pro )GI'tlQS o ietiread uts ou not esufficlent to stilien the thread or deprive it; of

- In app ying the disinfectant and water- .wproofing compounds it is possible to apply them at the same time and by a single operation. For example, using thymol as the disinfectant and aluminum palmitate as the water-proofing agent, these substances may be dissolved in a suitable solvent such as gasoline and employed for impregnation of the thread followed by wringing and drying;

As an example of this method'of treating the thread, one part by weight of 'thymol is dissolved in 100 parts by weight of gasoline with stirring until solution takes place and two parts by weight of aluminum palmitate are added and the mixturestirred until the soap is dissolved or dispersed. The resulting dispersion looks like a perfect solution until it is allowed to settle when it sets as a rather viscous fluid with a thickness comparable to that of molasses but not sticky. The thread reeled into hanks is immersed in this material and then after removing the excess of liquid it is passed through a wringer and then allowed to dry by evaporation of the gasoline. If 100% by weight of the immersion fluid is left on the thread about one-half percent by weight of thymol and one percent by weight of aluminum palmitatewill be left on the thread after drying. 1

Instead of combining the applicationsof thedlsinffitants and the water-proofing agents, it is often fieferable to carry out mperation in two stages. ThlS can be done to advantage by first applying a soluble soap and the disinfectant to the yarn during the manufacture ofthe thread and then subsequently treating the impregnated fiber with an aluminum salt solution, after completion of the thread, to precipitate the insoluble aluminum soap in the fiber. In. this way a protective layer of the aluminum soap is developed from the soluble soap after the thymol has been applied under intimate dispersion and suspension in the soluble soap solution and the treatment is advantageously effected in conjunction with other wet treatments of the yarn or thread, thus avoiding any additional drying costs.

This preferred method of treating the threads maybe carried out in accordance with the following specific example: a 10% solution in water of an ordinary chipped soap such as the fatty oil soaps used by dyers is allowed to cool to about 50 C. 75% of finely powdered thymol is added with stirring until the thymol is melted. The thymol rises to the top of the soap dispersion and forms an oily layer. When the mixture is nearly cooled but before the thymol crystallizes it is stirred violently for a few minutes until a creamy coloidal suspension is obtained which can be diluted to the equivalent of about 2% soap concentration for use in the impregnation. This dilution can be carried out satisfactorily in hot water but not in cold water. A faintly opalescent liquid results.

This suspension or solution is advantageously applied to the yarn in the following manner: Flax yarn such as that ordinarily used for gill nettings is thoroughly boiled and after drying the yarn is wet-twisted through the soap suspension of thymol and then dried at temperatures which will not drive off the thymol. The twisted thread is then dipped into a cold aqueous solution of aluminum acetate of about 1.025 specific gravity, and dried and spooled. The treated thread may then be made up into nets directly, or it may be shipped to anetting manufacturer. The water soluble soap provides a vehicle for distributing the solid thymol in a finely divided precipitated form on and in the fiber and when combined by reaction with the aluminum or other metal 7 produces in situ a metallic soap. This metallic soap is not only on but within the fiber substance itself and is elfective as a waterproofing agent and holds the disinfectant on the fibers in a concentration such that it retains its protective action over a long period of time.

The thread thus treated is uniformly impregnated with the preservative throughout its entire length and the netting made from it is uniformly impregnated within the knots and at those portionsof the netting which are under high tension as well as those portions which are under slight tension or no tension. The netting contains an effective disinfectant. This rot-resistant netting is no I flax thread, which comprises applying a water soluble soap and disinfectant to the yarn, twisting the yarn into thread, and then precipitating the soap within the finished thread by converting it into an insoluble soap.

2. In the method of preparing a rot-resistantfiax thread, the steps which comprise impregnating the yarn after boilingwith a water soluble soap, twisting the yarnto thread and then converting the soluble soap toan insoluble soap.

3. A rot-resistant flax thread suitable for use in the manufacture of gill netting preserved by the incorporation therein of a solid emulsion of a disinfectant dispersed in an effective waterproofing material;

4:. A rot-resistant flax thread suitable for use in the manufactrure of gill netting preserved by the incorporation therein of a solid emulsion of thymol dispersed in an insoluble aluminum soap.

5. A rot-resistant thread suitable for use in the manufacture of gill netting, which thread is soft, and pliable and has a surface suitable for knotting, said thread being preserved by the presence therein of a solid emulsion of a difiicultly soluble disinfectant dispersed in an effective waterproofing material which prevents or retards the dissolving or washing off of the disinfectant.

6. A rot-resistant flax thread suitable for use in the manufacture of gill netting, which thread is soft and pliable and has a surface suitable for knotting, and which thread is preserved by the presence therein of a solid emulsion comprising an insoluble soap with a disinfectant dispersed therein.

7. A rot-resisting flax thread suitable for use in the manufacture of gill netting, which thread is soft and pliable and has a surface suitable for knotting, and which thread is preserved by the presence therein of a solid emulsion of a solid and difiicultly soluble disinfectant dispersed in an insoluble aluminum soap.

8. The method of preparing a rot-resistant flax thread which comprises treating the material with a colloidal suspension of a solid and difiicultly soluble antiseptic in a water soluble soap and subsequently treating the material with a solution of a metal which willform in situ within and upon the fibers an insoluble soap within which the antiseptic is dispersed as a solid emulsion In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STUART JACKSON HAYES. 

